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SOP No. EM-05 I Page 1 of 3

Collection of Sediment Samples

Revision: #7 Replaces: 2/27/12version Effective: 4/15/20

1. Purpose andScope: Pesticides canbindto organicmatterinthe sediment oflakes, ponds, 

andstreams. Sediment canbecome contaminatedwithpesticidesvia runofffromthe landor 

throughaerialdepositiontothesurfaceofthewater. Sediment samplesarecollectedto 

determinethequantityofapesticideboundtotheorganicmatter. Anyinstructionson 

documentingandcollectingsedimentsamples foundintheEnvironmentalMonitoringPlan 

(EMP)fortheProgramunder studysupersedes instructions containedinthis SOP.

2. Supplies Required: To request sampling equipment and other supplies, send the 

filled out Environmental Monitoring Supplies Checklist to the monitoringsupplies

coordinatorat ProtectionandQuarantine(PPQ) Science and Technology (S&T), Miami.

2.1 weighteddredge tied to a strong rope

2.2 3-gallon galvanized pail (obtain locally)

2.3 hand trowel (obtain locally)

2.4 1⁄4-inch mesh screen (obtain locally)

2.5 sample container (1-gallon heavy foil envelope)

2.6 baby wipes (obtain locally)

2.7 field log book

2.8 ice chest with wet, dry, or blue ice (obtainlocally)

2.9 environmental monitoring forms (APHIS Form2060)

2.10 strapping tape

2.11 indelible marker

3. Collecting a Submerged Sediment Sample:

3.1 Sediment is usually collected from the bottom ofa water body. Stand at the edge
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SOP No. EM-05 I Page 2 of 3

Collection of Sediment Samples

Revision: #7 Replaces: 2/7/12 version Effective: 4/15/20

of the water body to be sampled. Firmly hold the free end ofthe rope thatis 

attachedto the clean, weighteddredge andtoss thedredge intothe water.

3.2 Pullthedredge to you and empty the contents into the galvanizedpail.

3.3 Repeat steps 3.1 and 3.2 until the pail is about halffull.

3.4 Allowthesedimenttosettleinthepailandthenpouroffthewateronthe top.

3.5 Transfer the sediment sample to the sample container (1-gallon heavy foil 

envelope). Ifthereisalotofdebrisinthesample,passitthroughthewiremesh 

toremovetwigs,leaves, stones, andotherdebrispriortoplacingthe sampleinthe 

sample container. Foldoverthe flap on the heavy foil bag suchthat there is no air 

space. Securely seal the bag withthe strappingtape and label the bag using the 

indeliblemarkerwitha codethatwillallowthe sample tobematchedtoits 

documentation.

3.6 Place the sample inthe ice chestfortransportto a freezerfor storagepriorto 

shipping.

3.7 Decontaminateallofthesamplingequipmentbyfirstwashingoffanysediment 

adhering to it and then wiping it down with sanitary wipes.

4. Collecting a Sediment Sample from a Dry Channel or Depression:

4.1 Ifyou plantocollect sedimentfromthe bottomofa channel ordepressionwhich 

contained water at one time but is now dry, contact the Environmental 

Compliance Team for details on equipment and procedures.

5. Documentation:

5.1 Recordallobservations inthefieldlogbook(seeSOPEM-12,Usinga Field Log 

Book). Drawa sitemap,includinganapproximate scale andNortharrow, which 

shows the relativepositionsofthewaterbodyor streamsamplecollectionsiteand 

thetreatment site. Atopographicalmapor aerialphotographannotatedwiththe 

GPScoordinatesandrequiredinformationshouldbeprovidedifpossibleaswell 

asphotographsorvideoofthesamplesiteandwaterbody. Besuretorecord 

whenthelastrainfalloccurred,theamount,estimatedduration,timebetweenthe 

onset ofthe rain and the collection ofthe sediment sample, land slope, soil type, 

andadescriptionofthetypeofvegetationgrowingbetweenthetreatment siteand 

thesample collectionsite. Observedweatherreports available fromtheNational 

Weather Service can provide additional useful information.
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SOP No. EM-05 IPage 3 of 3

Collection of Sediment Samples

Revision: #6 Replaces: 2/7/12version Effective: 4/15/20

5.2 Complete an APHIS Form 2060 for each sediment sample.

5.3 RetainthepinkcopyofForm 2060 foryourrecords anddistribute the

remaining copies as specified in theEMP.

6. Packaging and Shipping:

6.1 Package andship the sediment samples as describedin SOPEM-17,

Packaging and Shipping of Samples.